When You Need a Time Out: Tips for Frustrated Parents

Sometimes as a parent, you get frustrated. Even the best and most patient of parents can need a time out from time to time. It’s a tough job that puts a lot of stress and pressure on you and it’s important that you don’t discipline or punish in anger. If you feel like you’re going to lose your cool, you need to take a little break and then come back to the situation.

Here are some things you can do when you need a time-out:

Count to ten – Stop what you’re doing and slowly count to ten. Don’t rush it. Take your time with each number and breathe deeply as you do it. Allow your mind to calm. Some people like to do this but count backwards, calming themselves as the numbers count down lower.

Meditate – When you feel angry or upset, go to a quiet place and meditate or pray to calm your nerves. There are many different ways to do this. If it’s new to you and you’re not sure where to begin, you could use some pre-written prayers or meditation chants to lead your way.

Enjoy a hobby – You can take some time to do something you enjoy. Take a few minutes to one of your hobbies to distract your mind and calm your emotions. Play some music, knit, dance, play a game, or draw or color for a few minutes as a parental time out.

Maybe all of these ideas don’t resonate with you, or only some of them speak to you. You can always take these ideas and expand on them, or use them to help you think of some time out ideas of your own.

Do you have any tips to share with our readers? Please share in the comment!

Lyne is a Certified Infant Massage Instructor (CIMI), Certified Professional Wedding Consultant, and an Event Planner. It has always been her dream to create a website dedicated just for Moms since her children were young. Thus, after 10 years, she finally accomplished it, and the Ottawa Mommy Club was born in May 2011. She loves all things Disney and is an avid chocoholic. She was also the Queen B of the BConnected Conference, Canada's Digital Influencer and social media Conference in Ottawa and Toronto.
She coordinated the Annual Infant Information Day/Early Years Expo for the City of Ottawa for 8 years. She was also the co-chair of the Navan for Kraft Hockeyville 2009-2011 committee that organized five community events within 6 months, and helped Navan reach the top 10 finalists in Canada. In April 2011, she received the City of Ottawa Mayor's City Builder Award.